Mt. Kilimanjaro Challengers—We Salute You!

It is our great pleasure to salute participants of the 2026 Mt. Kilimanjaro Challenge, who spent eight days in July climbing the slopes of Africa’s tallest mountain.

During our second “Climb for the Conservancy: Mt. Kilimanjaro Challenge,” participants faced the task of conquering the 19,341-foot peak. The trip to Tanzania doubled as a fundraiser—participants raised $2,000 each to support conservation within the San Dieguito River watershed.

The first Kilimanjaro Challenge was in 2024.

Cindy Outlaw, a Conservancy board member, leads the hikes. 

The party included five grown-ups who had trained all year and three indestructible 20-somethings (children of other hikers plus a friend) who prepared very little.

The hikers experienced great weather, Outlaw said, with no rain, wind or snow.

“We ate a lot of dust,” she said, “but I’ll take that over being cold.”

After the descent, five of the hikers stayed in Africa to witness the Great Migration during a safari on the Serengeti.

This year’s journey was Outlaw’s 22nd trek to the top of the mountain.

The excitement of taking new groups inspires her.

“That’s why I keep doing it,” she said. “Every trip is different. Every group is different. I hope to do it again with another Conservancy group.”

Interested in a future Kilimanjaro Challenge? Send an email to sdrvc@sdrvc.org.